"The Trump government's 'America first' policy is an outcome of the United States' belief in its exceptionalism, unilateralism, trade protectionism, economic nationalism and white supremacy," the Chinese newspaper said, adding the trade war is likely to be waged for the long term.

Trade tensions have caused concerns in the financial sector but on Thursday Asian markets closed higher, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei rose 1.17 percent to close at 22,187.96, and the Shanghai Composite Index jumped 60.53 points, or 2.18 percent, to 2,838.30.